Broken Lance Page #2

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the whole state'll know it.

We could hang them or shoot them...

- Cut it, Pa.

He thinks I'm fooling.

Lots of fellows felt that way

until we taught them...

...that you don't steal cattle

from Deveraux Ranch.

But the cattle are as much

yours as they are mine.

And they would have

been yours too, but...

What do you think, Ben?

You don't pay them enough.

Or you either, Ben?

They get the same as you.

If you ask me, I'll tell you, you

get twice what you're worth.

There ain't a man living who can

say that he stole cattle from me...

...but you two mushheads thought...

You wanted them so bad,

take them and get out.

The money you get for them'll keep

you until you can steal more.

But remember this: . .

...don't steal them from here.

We can't let him do this.

Why not?

I warned them they were

only asking for trouble.

Pa, you don't mean this.

They're your own sons.

They're a couple of cheap

tinhorn cattle thieves.

Two men are dead because of them.

- You just can't do it.

I did. Let go, son.

You should have had

all this yesterday.

If I'd been half smart I never

would've let you see it.

I don't know why it is but

every wife thinks...

What are you trying to do, kill me?

- Finish the telling.

Nothing to tell. I just

sent them packing.

Money they said they wanted.

I pay'em, don't I?

They have all they needs on

the ranch, haven't they?

Haven't they?

Perhaps.

But I don't think it

is money they need.

They were stealing cattle to get it.

What is it they do need?

They are not my sons.

It is difficult to say.

I think it is you, my husband.

You have never given them

anything of yourself.

That's a lot of! That kind of talk!

I got a big ranch to run.

The biggest of the country.

Besides, I've built it all

up for'em, haven't I?

Al right, I built it for myself.

But it's theirs when I die.

Suppose I haven't given'em time.

Does that mean they've to grow

up to be cattle thieves?

You are the father.

They want to be part of you.

If you do not give yourself,

they take.

Even if it means stealing

something that is yours.

That's Indian talk, squaw talk.

I don't understand you.

You understand.

That's what makes you angry.

That and because you've sent'em away.

They are your sons.

They're not yours. If Joe had

done a thing like that...

Because they're not, I have tried

to love them as much as my own.

And you have too.

That must take a power. I know

nothing about. But as I say, Joe...

Joe wouldn't do that.

He's my son, yet I don't

know what he would do.

He is yours, and you do not.

Bring them back.

- No!

I sent'em away and that's that.

Let me.

Sore at me?

No.

It's only because

I don't understand.

You didn't get a very good bargain,

my little Princess.

I have never regretted it.

No all these years you haven't?

How have you stayed so beautiful?

Am I?

Still?

You know, the first day I saw you...

...riding that little paint pony...

...with the antelope skin

shirt and the beads...

...and the feather in your hair...

...I though there was nothing

in the world so beautiful.

I didn't know the half.

We have guests for dinner.

- Send them home.

But they're already here.

You go downstairs and pacify them.

- Without you?

What's the matter? Are you afraid?

- No.

They'll bow and smile

and be very polite.

They'd better.

They know that too.

Are you afraid of them?

I'm afraid of no one,

but you my husband.

Princess.

That sounds like it has

a little of the old Irish.

Are you sure you haven't any

Irishman before I came along?

There is no other Irishman

like you, my husband.

Princess.

Did you?

- No!

I...

Please don't.

Matt!

'Seora' Deveraux.

We've been waiting for you.

- Horace, my apologies. Sorry.

Clem, nice to see you.

Where's Grace? Couldn't she come?

It's her back again.

Hasn't been out in a week.

Must be two weeks

since I've seen her.

I haven't met this young lady.

I should never forget it if I had.

Of course you have, uncle Matt.

It's not Barbara!

Why it can't Barbara, when you

went east you were this high.

I was a little taller than that.

Good evening, 'Seora'.

Not very much.

My, if the years had just done

for me what they've done...

You've met my sons.

- Yes, all four of them.

I expected you two would still

be out with the cattle.

I thought they ought to be

here, so I brought them in.

I see.

Are they entertaining you properly?

They've been most gallant.

- A fine set of boys, Matt.

Yes, Madame Deveraux taught

them their manners.

If they smack of the range

still, that's my fault.

I think they resemble you

amazingly, Uncle Matt.

So handsome and charming.

- Your manners weren't neglected.

Shall we go in to dinner?

- May I?

Joe.

What about them?

It was tough, but I got'em drunk...

- I'm not talking about that.

You heard what I said'em...

- You were mad, Pa.

I figured once you...

- You figured!

You've more courage that brains.

One of these days...

- Not tonight, Pa.

You got your good shirt on.

Besides, I think I could

lick you anyway.

That'll be the day, son.

Get in there.

Dear, that old heifer

never did come back.

That was in the days before

I had a seat in my pants.

But they were pretty good

days at that, eh Horace?

What are you eating, Uncle Matt?

- These?

They're pickled cactus grapes.

Cactus grapes?

- Yeah.

I don't think I've seen'em.

- They don't have'em in the east.

They're wonderful appetizers, eh Ben?

Yes, If you like them.

They're real good, Barbara.

Try it.

Don't!

It's a Mexican pepper.

It'll burn the roof of your mouth.

One of Pa's funny jokes.

The Mexicans grind them for cayenne.

Is that right, Uncle Matt?

Yes.

They're not that hot though.

Joe has a tendency to

be tender hearted.

But you eat them.

I eat anything that doesn't eat me.

Not bad at all.

Holly smoke!

Not hot?

A little!

A little!

She would deny it if it tore her

mouth off. Quite girl, Horace.

Why I didn't see before her, if

she's been here for a month?

If you came in town often

you might have.

I had to bring her out here.

- He doesn't come to town.

You've to run a ranch from the back

of the horse, not from a chair.

You find out about

mineral rights, though...

...and beef prices.

I get as good a price as

the next man, isn't right, Ben?

No.

I can show you the figures.

The boys are given me a bad time

tonight. Where did you get tem?

I asked them.

Most of them are averaging a 100%

and a half a pound better'n we are.

What should we do?

Open an office in town,

like the rest of them.

Watch Chicago prices and...

- And who would run the office?

What about Ben? He could do it.

I don't know, he hadn't

mentioned it to me.

Now...

- Wait a minute!

Let Ben talk for himself.

Go ahead, Ben.

Mr. Deveraux...

...our friends need more wine.

My apologies, Madam.

And you, Barbara.

'Vino'.

Sometimes the task of

managing four sons, is...

They look like they're able

to take care themselves.

They've been raised to.

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